Flanner's  N.  C.  Battery  at  the  Battle  of  the  Crater.       247 


Flannel's  North  Carolina  Battery  at  the  Battle  of  the  Crater. 

[We  only  regret  that  the  publication  of  the  following  narrative  by  the  gal- 
lant Captain  of  Flanner's  battery  has  been  so  long  delayed  by  circumstances 
beyond  our  control :] 

After  reading  Captain  Gordon  McCabe's  artitle  in  the  Southern 
Historical  Society  Papers  on  the  defence  of  Petersburg,  I  think  I 
have  the  right  to  find  fault,  not  with  what  is  written,  but  what 
was  omitted  in  the  article  referred  to. 

I  claim  that  the  battery  commanded  by  me,  and  composed  en- 
tirely of  North  Carolinians,  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  preventing 
the  Federal  army  from  entering  Petersburg  on  the  morning  of  the 
springing  of  the  mine.  The  facts  are  these:  The  mine  was  sprung 
about  daylight  of  the  29th  of  July,  and  was  immediately  followed 
by  the  capture  and  occupation  of  our  line  of  breast-works  by  the 
enemy.  They  remained  in  the  works  until  8  o'clock  before  making 
preparations  for  the  advance.  About  that  time  they  reformed  line 
of  battle  and  began  advancing  toward  the  city.  Flanner's  battery 
was  posted  in  the  main  road  near  the  Gee  House,  about  two  hun- 
dred yards  in  rear  of  the  Confederate  breast- works,  immediately 
in  rear  of  the  mine,  forming  what  might  be  considered  a  second 
line,  but  entirely  without  infantry  support.  Immediately  upon 
the  advance  of  the  enemy  we  opened  on  them  with  shell  and  can- 
ister, and  they  soon  sought  shelter  in  their  trenches.  In  a  few 
minutes  they  again  formed  and  commenced  advancing.  Again 
we  opened  on  them  with  our  six  guns.  The  enemy  pressed 
steadily  forward,  when  our  guns  were  double  charged  with  canis- 
ter, and  a  deadly  fire  poured  into  their  ranks.  Their  lines  were 
then  broken,  and  they  fled  to  the  works  and  there  remained  until 
our  infantry,  composed  of  the  brigades  of  Mahone,  Girardy,  and 
Sanders,  all  under  the  command  of  Mahone,  arrived,  and  were 
placed  in  position  preparatory  to  making  the  final  charge,  which 
resulted  in  the  recapture  of  the  works  about  2  o'clock  in  the  day. 

The  fire  of  the  enemy,  from  nearly  one  hundred  guns,  was  con- 
centrated upon  my  company  for  two  hours;  but  amid  this  terrible 
rain  of  deadly  missiles  these  brave  North  Carolinians  stood  to 
their  guns  and  repulsed  every  advance  made  by  the  enemy,  hold- 


er 

Do 

0^ 


248  Southern  Historical  Society  Papers. 

ing  them  in  check  alone,  and  without  infantry  support,  until  the 
arrival  of  G-eneral  Beauregard  with  the  troops  commanded  by 
Mahone  before  mentioned. 

We  claim  the  honor  of  saving  the  day,  and  preventing  what 
might  have  been  a  very  serious  disaster  and  probable  loss  of  Pe- 
tersburg. 

No  one  save  these  who  went  through  the  fiery  ordeal  can  form 
the  slightest  conception  of  the  fury  of  this  attack.  Not  less  than' 
fifty  shell  a  minute  were  hurled  at  the  company;  and  but  for  the 
protection  i  fforded  them  by  the  sides  of  the  road,  they  would 
have  been  swept  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  There  are  those  now 
living  who  can  confirm  my  statement;  and  if  this  should  meet  the 
eye  of  the  gentlemen  cognizant  of  these  details,  they  will  doubt- 
less do  us  this  justice.  The  history  of  a  battle  cannot  be  truth- 
fully written  from  the  same  stand-point  of  any  one  man,  although 
present  in  the  engagement.  It  is  due,  therefore,  to  the  brave 
men  who  composed  my  command  that  they  should  be  properly 
placed  upon  the  record. 

We  do  not  wish  to  lessen  the  claims  to  which  the  valorous 
troops  of  other  commands  are  entitled,  but  let  us  make  such  con- 
tributions as  the  future  historian  can  work  into  a  continuous  nar- 
rative and  do  justice  to  all. 

Henry  G.  Flanner, 

Late  Captain  Flanner's  N.  C.  Battery. 


